CHAPTER XXI

EASTERN BENGAL

IT is not within the limits of this book to record the
numberless risings which took place, and were
in most cases suppressed by isolated civilians, or by
soldiers acting in a Civil capacity, who, by their
dauntless bearing in the hours of danger, induced
Asiatics to follow them, and defeat mutineers and
rebels of their own race. The extent of the zone of
operations in Eastern Bengal may be gathered, however,
by the statement that while Mr. Yule, the intrepid
Commissioner of Eastern Bihar, with headquarters at
Bhagalpur, 250 miles north-west of Calcutta, assisted
by the Rajah of Tiparah, and some loyal Zamindars,
was driving mutineers into Nepal, 200 miles to the
north of his headquarters, there was trouble at Dhakah,
250 miles to the south-east, and at Sambalpur, 350
miles south-west of Bhagalpur.

In Western Bihar, Kunwar Singh, who had been
defeated and driven from his chief town, Jagdispur, by
Major Vincent Eyre^ after the relief of Arab, reoccupied
his residence in April 1858. When that able Rajah
learnt that all the British troops were concentrating at
Lucknow he made a dash for Azamgarh, with 1200
Sipahis and 500 of his tenants. Lieutenant (now
General Sir G. B., G.C.B.) Milman, 37th (ist Hamp¬
shire) Regiment, with 2 companies, 2 light guns, and

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